Promoting adaptation with three integrated approaches

Shizuoka Prefecture formulated the “Shizuoka Prefecture Policy on Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation” in March 2019 in accordance with the Climate Change Adaptation Act. Along with the formulation, the Sizuoka Climate Change Adaptation Center was set up in the Environment and Hygiene Institute and an exhibition on climate change adaptation was held at the Museum of Natural and Environmental History in June 2019. We interviewed Michiyo Imahashi, Team Leader at the Environmental Policy Division; Yasuhiro Morinaga, Senior Staff at the division; and Takafumi Kamiya, Assistant Manager at the Environment and Hygiene Institute (Shizuoka Climate Change Adaptation Center).

Building up momentum for adaptation in the whole prefecture while utilizing findings from outside sources

Shizuoka Prefecture formulated a local climate change adaptation plan (hereinafter referred to as local adaptation plan) of its own in FY 2018 and set up the Local Climate Change Adaptation Center (hereinafter referred to as local adaptation center). How did you come to make such pioneering efforts?

Morinaga: We never thought we were pioneering. We formulated the prefecture’s action plan for global warming countermeasures (local policy) in FY 2014. This plan roughly outlined adaptation and mentioned the necessity. Many other prefectures already had the action plan for local policy or the Basic Environment Plan that contained details equivalent to a local adaptation plan. We have considered ourselves rather behind other prefectures and used their examples as a reference.

Before formulating the local adaptation plan, we needed to tackle the issue of adaptation as soon as possible due to the cabinet decision on “Climate Change Adaptation Plan” in 2015 and circumstances at home and abroad. We organized a cross-departmental workshop in the prefectural government to raise the awareness of adaptation in our government and prepare for the formulation. Hearing of the promulgation of the Climate Change Adaptation Act in advance, we decided to formulate the local adaptation plan in FY 2018 without waiting for the time to revise the prefecture’s action plan for local policy.

Shizuoka was the first to formulate the local adaptation plan as an independent plan. Was there anything you found difficult or you had to be creative in formulating the plan?

Morinaga: We outsourced a bibliographic survey on climate change impacts in the prefecture to an outside organization in FY 2017. It was difficult for a local government department to process impact information of across different fields with few findings from experts or cooperation with other departments. Therefore, we outsourced technical surveys and the Environmental Policy Division undertook coordination between relevant departments in the prefectural government. From the beginning of the formulation work in FY 2018, we sought advice on our adaptation plan from the National Institute for Environmental Studies and the Shizuoka Local Meteorological Office. While relying on outside sources for technical findings in this way, we strived for coordination in the prefectural government. That may be one way we devised.

Field-specific impact assessment and the assessment of adaptation measures are issues yet to be solved. It is not easy for a local government to conduct an impact assessment according to the national government’s classification, “severity,” “urgency” and “certainty.” The assessment result by the national government may be quoted but national assessments do not necessarily match local assessments. In our local adaptation plan, we organized information excluding impact assessments. As for the assessment of adaptation measures, we hear there is no established approach in the world. The national government is working on it at present. Based on the result, we will be examining how to assess both impacts and adaptation measures.

Imahashi: To communicate the idea of adaptation to not only those concerned but also the prefectural citizens, we will need to explain both mitigation and adaptation. For example, it has been recommended that the use of an air-conditioner should be minimized to save energy. In adaptation measures, reasonable use of an air-conditioner is recommended to prevent heatstroke. As adaptation measures can appear to be regressive, in order to promote both mitigation and adaptation strategies, we must think of an effective way to disseminate them and raise the awareness. It is difficult to predict the future but we can analyze the past weather phenomena. Using those data, we will try to communicate effectively to Shizuoka citizens.

How was an adaptation-related budget allocated?

Morinaga: In the autumn of FY 2018, we requested a budget for the following year. The requested budget was mainly for studies on climate change impacts, establishment of the Local Climate Change Adaptation Center and dissemination and awareness raising at the museum. The budget for the studies and the establishment of the center was approved. Although no budget was allocated, we were able to hold an exhibition at the museum with the help of the museum, as we were working closely with the museum from the time we had requested the budget. It is difficult for an environment-related bureau or department to secure a budget for adaptation. However, it is significant for the promotion of adaptation that we are now able to implement a comprehensive approach, that is, to conduct studies leading to future adaptation measures, ensure the functions of the adaptation center and raise the awareness among citizens and businesses in the prefecture.

Kamiya: The budget for the local adaptation center was approved, thanks to the Environmental Policy Division’s effort. Although the center is established by the institute, it is essential to work with the Environmental Policy Division to get a budget and decide on the activities. Our institute is also doing research on climate change impacts and adaptation. We are going to proceed with our activities including those specific operations, communicating closely with the prefectural government people.

New challenges by the Local Climate Change Adaptation Center

After the Local Climate Change Adaptation Center was established, have you received any inquiry? Have you used A-PLAT as a reference for the formulation of a local adaptation plan, awareness raising or any other case?

Morinaga: We are now receiving more and more inquiries about the local adaptation plan and the local adaptation center from other prefectures. Most inquiries are made by telephone. Sometimes we receive visitors. As to the use of A-PLAT, we quote the predictions of suitable growing regions for citrus unshiu (findings of the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund S-8) in our local adaptation plan.
We also received advice from the National Institute for Environmental Studies before we invited public comments. The institute suggested that we should include the population, key industries and other local characteristics and we included Mount Fuji listed as a World Heritage Site and Minami-Alps Biosphere Reserve.

Kamiya: Since the local adaptation center was established, inquiries about the role and duties of the center have been increasing in number. The lectures for prefectural citizens and businesses on climate change impacts and adaptation have been also increasing. We use the WebGIS of the A-PLAT for information on prefectures. With the WebGIS, data of future impact predictions are displayed on a map and helpful in explaining to lay people. Our prefecture has testing and research institutes in various fields, including agriculture and fisheries and they are tackling problems they are experiencing. We are becoming familiar with the impact prediction data of the A-PLAT but the data are not necessarily provided to all the relevant institutes. I feel that it is also a role of the local adaptation center to serve as liaison between the National Institute for Environmental Studies and testing and research institutes in the prefecture, mutually provide information on climate change impacts and adaptation to the institutes or share the information.

This fiscal year, you have contracted to conduct the public-participation project for climate change information gathering and analysis run by the Ministry of the Environment. What operations are you planning to do?

Kamiya: We are considering extensively collecting information on climate change impacts in the prefecture this fiscal year. For example, we are planning workshops for citizens, interviews with agricultural and fishery cooperatives, and collection of urban temperatures and humidity data. I find it difficult to identify which collected data indicate climate change impacts. I hope to receive advice on that from the National Institute for Environmental Studies.

Imahashi: In the past, most cicadas we saw in summer were large brown cicadas. But, Cryptotympana facialis are increasing these days. We cannot tell whether that is a climate change impact or an expansion of the distributional range. Fact-checking of collected information from citizens is often difficult for us. It will be helpful if information, including the result of the impact assessment to be made by the national government next fiscal year and expert judgment, is provided in the way easy for a local government to use.

Will you tell me future outlooks and your motivation for working on climate change adaptation?

Kamiya: Unlike the fields the local Institutes for Environmental Studies have worked on, adaptation varies in approach and there is no model answer. I feel motivated by the experience of working while sharing information with people from various regions and fields as we are newly tackling research on climate change adaptation and studies on impacts. I hope to continue to work in close cooperation with the National Institute for Environmental Studies.

Imahashi: In my childhood, the air temperature rose to no more than 32 degrees. Children nowadays feel the heat of over 40 degrees fairly common. Just as people feel, the temperature is definitely rising. I will try to raise public awareness of the fact using observation data.

Morinaga: Since the Paris Agreement, worldwide measures against global warming have been accelerating while some point to a low awareness in our country. I believe that daily living of next generations depends on actions we take now, including both adaptation and mitigation measures. I am thankful that I am part of the efforts as a member of the Environment Policy Division in this critical time. Although adaptation is quite complicated involving many fields, it is an important issue local governments should tackle. It will be becoming more and more necessary. Our challenge has just begun. We will continue to tackle various challenges while learning things by trial and error.